Business Community News
“I came down the hill and saw the harbor and was sold on the idea,” says Kandice Claybaker of her decision to move locally and purchase Waterfront Natural Market in January 2020.
A transplant from St. Petersburg, Florida, Claybaker was drawn to the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She experienced that beauty during visits with her brother, who attended school in Oregon.
Kandice Claybaker purchased Waterfront Natural Market on Harborview Drive in 2020 and focuses on sustainable, regionally produced products. Julie Warrick Amman
After years of working in the construction industry, Claybaker traded shores and moved more than 3,000 miles away to try her hand as a first-time small-town business owner.
While growing her career in Florida, Claybaker became entrenched in community work with the Claybaker Dustoff Foundation. The non-profit organization supported war veterans with transitional assistance during difficult times.
“It was fun to give back to the community,” says Claybaker. The foundation helped supply backpacks with essentials such as toiletries and food for homeless veterans.
More than just buying a business
Claybaker bought the market from Bruce Winfrey, who founded the store in 1975. She believes one of the selling points was her promise to keep the storefront a local market.
Claybaker instinctively knew she wasn’t just buying a business. It was adopting a community with the aim of increasing the presence of more locally sourced products.
Products displayed inside the Natural Waterfront Market in Gig Harbor. Julie Warrick Amman
Waterfront Natural Markets continues the tradition of selling natural supplements and foods. But Claybaker has redesigned the interior to provide expanded real estate to showcase products from the region. Handpicked by Claybaker, each local item has its own community story.
On the shelves
Among the items for sale at the Waterfront Natural Market:
- Nut butters and nut mixes—included in the Make Good Breakfast Pack—support training for women overcoming adversity in Portland, Oregon.
- Paper Towels, a reusable paper towel made by Marley Monsters in Eugene, Oregon, empowers sustainable living.
- Sherpa Chai is a small-batch brewed tea from Boulder, Colorado. It is inspired by the boy’s love for his mother’s tea, drunk as a child growing up in a small village 10,000 meters high in the Himalayas.
- Umchew Bars from Edmonds are one of many products that support the gluten and dairy free community. Biff’s Blue Ribbon Barbecue is made locally in Puyallup and Barlean’s Organic Oils is created in the Whatcom County town of Ferndale.
- Faith in prayer and giving back to the community is the message behind Little Prayer Tea Sugar, a family-owned business in King County’s Normandy Park.
Unpaper Towels, a reusable paper towel, is made by Marley Monsters in Eugene, Oregon. Julie Warrick Amman
Northwest focus
This small market covers all the senses. From the San Juan Islands comes My Fav Sweater Eau de Toilette, a perfume created for a girl by her mother. The perfume promises to “transport you to an extremely warm environment, tea+books+fireplace, in a super cool environment”.
No Man’s Land, a line of jewelry handcrafted in the Pacific Northwest, uses North American hardwoods and natural mineral pigments combined with premium paper.
Kandice Claybaker helps customer Paula Henzel select produce at the Waterfront Natural Market in Gig Harbor. Henzel said she enjoys coming into the store and finds the staff helpful. Julie Warrick Amman
Rearranging the retail space has also allowed Claybaker to open up space for local artists and events. Veteran artwork is currently on display in the Artist’s Corner, with plans to rotate artist shows. Future events include pop-up shops with partner vendors and participation in local events such as Sip and Stroll on October 8 and Girls Night Out in November.
Part of a community
Connecting with neighboring business owners is also important to Claybaker, a member of The Gig Harbor Downtown Alliance. Waterfront Natural Market also maintains strong relationships with neighboring communities such as Port Orchard, with eggs from ducks and chickens housed on site, and shipments of raw milk from Blackjack Valley Farms and wheat berries from the Palouse in Eastern Washington.
“We love the feedback,” says Claybaker, adding that she has learned to listen to the community as a first-time business owner.
When Kandice Claybaker purchased Waterfront Natural Market in 2020, she made sure to create the showroom for sustainable, regionally sourced products. Julie Warrick Amman
“We have a lot of special requests,” says Claybaker, “that’s a lot of what we do.”
Quality supplements are a significant part of the business at Waterfront Natural Market, with special orders for all products welcome. Customers receive personal shopping assistance to help navigate individuals’ needs, whether it’s dietary restrictions, food suggestions, or even the perfect PNW gift idea.
Small town perks
Leaving the city for good in a small town has also brought some unexpected and rewarding benefits for Claybaker. In-store calls extend beyond typical product questions or requests.
“Some will call to chat and just say hi and see how we’re doing,” Claybaker says.
With large windows that open onto the sidewalk on Harborview Drive, the staff sees the typical dog walkers, but on occasion something truly unusual appears — like a pig in a chain suit.
It’s just a day in the life as a small business owner in Gig Harbor.
Aquatic Natural Market
Website: www.waterfrontnaturalmarket.com
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (253) 851-8120
Hours: 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday
Address: 3122 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor
Kandice Claybaker behind the counter at Waterfront Natural Market on Harborview Drive. Julie Warrick Amman
